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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-05-15, Page 4Page 4—Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, May 15, 1985 Seniors enjoy euchre party every Wednesday By Alan Rivett Every Wednesday at the Seniors Centre in Dungannon is card nght. Roars of laugh- ter can be heard as a card is slammed to the table and a trick is taken in. The other players in the room look around to see what the commotion is about to find that one of the hotter players on this night lias registered yet another lone hand. The bell at the head table rings to signify the end of the round, The winners move to other tables while the losers are forced to stay at the same table and hope another partner will make them winners next time. Most of the players are senior citizens who, come to the Dungannon Senior Citiz- ens ..,entre to enjoy a game of cards and converse with friends about the week's happenings. And, perhaps, take home a prize for the high or low euchre score. Most of the seniors are also members of the Dungannon Senior Citizens club. Evelyn Errington, past president and secretary, of the club, says the weekly card games are a welcome social event for many seniors in the area. "I've heard some people say 'I don't know what we'd do without them'." Meet People "You meet people you haven't seen in a long time. It's a social time. We'd be sitting at home otherwise... You get sick of . that," said Mrs. Errington. "My kids know where I am on Wednes- day ednes=day nights," says Margaret Mole who serves as the club's treasurer. Ted Bowers, who has been president of the club for the past three years, says the card parties have really been supported by the club's members, who must be 50 or older. So much so that the euchre parties, which up until last year ran every two weeks through the winter months, now run every week year round. "The lunch after is the drawing card which gets them out to the parties," he says with a chuckle. The Dungannon Senior Citizens Club has come a long way since it was first formed in August of 1981. The club, which started with a membership of 15, now has a flour- ishing membership of 110. Mrs. Ellington originally organized the club after she felt there was a need for the seniors in the area to ave 'some sort of entertainment and social outlet. Got Signatures "I just saw there were a /lot of people around Dungannon with nothing to do -- no entertainment. I thought if we got it (a club) going, this would help. I went around town and got some signatures to see how many would be in favor (of forming a club). I got a good response," she said. / The meetings were first held in members' homes and an executive commit- tee was formed. Soon after, a decision was made to start senior citizen card parties at the Orange Hall. The club also held card parties at the Agricultural Hall in Dun- gannon ungannon and at Brookside School. In March of last year, the club moved into their present location called the Dungannon Senior Citizen Centre at the south end of the village. The seniors, through their fund raising efforts bought the former Mennonite church and convert- ed it into a meeting � ting place and a hall for card Waving. The seniors had -to-do "a bit of scroung- ing" in order to raise funds for the centre, says Mr. Bowers. Through canvassing the area, $6,0.00 was raised. Pews from the church were removed and sold in order to make it into a useful meeting place. Received Grant In •January,! the seniors received an $8,000 grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Welfare's New Horizon pro- gram. Mr. Bowers says this money is available to seniors groups throughout the province to help them get started. The money was used for a new furnace and to change the hydro amperage in the building. The second instalment of the grant, totalling $7,000 will be used to renovate the basement of the building as well as for drapery. Besides organizing card parties, the seniors have other events within the com- munity, says Mr. Bowers. The club puts on an annual Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner for the seniors in the` Dungannon area. Their last Thanksgiving attracted.140 people, he said. The seniors also hold a variety of bazaars and rummage sales in. the course of the year. Their most recent. project is a flea market and bake sale on No. l ONTARIO WHITE PINE FOR CABINET WORK, SHELVING, EIC. 2" x 4" to 2" x 12" For Sash, etc. 1"x6"T&GYInatch For Wal Paneling and Barn i Garage Doors i FINISHING LIME POLYETHELENE 50111 BAGS 2-4-6 MIL HENDERON care BUILDING CENTRE J J. W. HENDERSON LIMITED, LUCKNOW, 528-3118 HOURS: MON. - FRI. 8 - 5:30 An. SAT. 8 - NOON ' The Dungannon Seniors enjoy card parties on a weekly basis at the Senior Centre. The club has a total of 110 members including (from left to right) first vice-president Eldon Culbert, secretary and past president Evelyn Errington, treasurer Margaret Mole and president Ted (Photo by Alan Rivett) Bowers. May 18 at the centre. The club holds its meetings on the second Wednesday of the month. The executive committee in the club consists of a president, first and second vice-presid- ents, a secretary, secretary correspondent and a treasurer. There is also property and business trustees as well as an entertain- ment, membership and refreshment com- mittee.. The members are required to pay a $2 membership fee. The community support for the senior citizens groups has been especially encour- aging, says Mr. Bowers. The community has donated not only money to the group but also things such as a projector and screen, sound system, dishes, a toaster oven and recently the seniors were given a piano for the centre. "They (the community) have helped us when we've needed them. They're right behind us," he says. Eldon Culbert, who serves as the first vice-president for the group, says the meetings and the card parties each week gives the seniors something to look forward to. "It's a way to meet outsiders and its something to look forward to on W ednes- day nights. I haven't missed too many- of them (card parties)," he says. STAIN DECKS, FENCES AND ALL EXTERIOR. WOODWORK LESS OFTEN WITH CUPRINOL® STAINS AND WOOD, PRESERVERS. CUPRINOL SAVE � 25°k_� BUY TWO GET THE 2ND AT HALF PRICE* • PENETRATES A PRESERVES • BEAUTIFIES • WATER REPELLANT *VALID ON ANY 41.11 gal. CUPRINOL PRODUCT OF EQUIVALENT VALUE AT PARTICIPATING DEALERS OFFER GOOD FROM MAY 15 TO JUNE 3, 1985 .. IT'D IN THE WOOD FOR GOOD 'J. W. HENDERSON BUILDING CENTRE 528-3118 u�.